AICPA & CIMA Launch Global Women to Watch Recognition to Celebrate and Honor Women in the Profession

The American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants are launching a new initiative, the AICPA & CIMA Global Women to Watch recognition, to honor women who have made significant contributions to the accounting profession and their peers. This recognition will amplify the global voices of both emerging and experienced leaders in the accounting and finance profession.

Nominations for the AICPA & CIMA Global Women to Watch for 2025 are open now and will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2025. Finalists will be selected by the organization’s Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee.

“Equity and inclusion are among our core values at the AICPA & CIMA,” said Crystal Cooke, director of diversity and inclusion at the AICPA & CIMA. “To this end, we always aim to find ways to ensure that we are amplifying a wide array of voices from different backgrounds and areas. We felt we needed to shift our recognition to be more inclusive of both emerging and experienced women who are making a difference in the accounting and finance profession. We look forward to amplifying and learning so much more about a broader group of women throughout the profession.”

Recognition for the Global Women to Watch falls into two categories, Experienced Leaders and Emerging Leaders, which are defined below.

Experienced Leaders

An Experienced Leader is a professional who has advanced to a senior level or leadership position within her organization. Titles include, but are not limited to, partner, executive director, director, owner, elected official or appointee, etc. Criteria for this category includes a range of activities, including:

Authorship of articles
Major or unique contribution to the profession·
Mentoring other professionals to support the profession pipeline or retention
Improvement to the workplace
Civic, foundation, community. corporate or professional association board or committee leadership
Leading a significant initiative within their company, business, community.
Extra-curricular activity that demonstrates strength, tenacity or dedication to a goal. (i.e., iron man, marathons, etc.)

Emerging Leaders

Defined as a professional who has made significant contributions to the profession and her community, but who has not yet reached the senior levels of leadership. Criteria include:

Public and/or community service
Demonstration of leadership
Contribution to the profession
Creation and implementation of unique initiative(s)
Involvement with company programs, alma mater or other local colleges and universities
Extra-curricular activity that demonstrates strength, tenacity or dedication to a goal. (i.e., iron man, marathons, etc.)

“Women in our profession are innovating at every stage of their careers, and their stories deserve to be placed front and center and celebrated,” said Sue Coffey, CEO of public accounting for AICPA & CIMA. “This new recognition will continue to showcase how exciting and meaningful a career in accounting can be for women.”

For the past several years, the AICPA & CIMA has partnered with CPA Practice Advisor on the annual Most Powerful Women in Accounting program, which recognizes C-suite and executive level leaders. This year, AICPA & CIMA will focus on Global Women to Watch and CPA Practice Advisor will oversee the Most Powerful Women in Accounting on its own.

Accounting